Church Professionals Commission

The Purpose of Church Professionals:

To foster the faith and vitality of those who are called to professional ministry—pastors, associate pastors, designated pastors, interim pastors, honorably retired teaching elders, stated supply, temporary supply, teaching elders in specialized ministry, inquirers, candidates, commissioned ruling elders, certified Christian educators, and ministers at-large.

Members & Contacts

2023

2024

  • Rev. Ronald N. Johnson, Teaching Elder
  • Ms. Susan Dietz, Ruling Elder
  • Ms. Elizabeth E. Tietz, Commissioned Ruling Elder
  • Rev. Joel Esala, Teaching Elder

2025

  • Mr. Joseph Amponsah, Ruling Elder
  • Rev. Joon Won Lee, Teaching Elder
  • Rev. Charlotte O’Neil, Teaching Elder
  • Rev. Leland Platt, Teaching Elder

Pastoral Call / Other Forms

Date
Info

08/03/22
Associate Transitional Pastor Covenant
08/03/22

11/01/22
Call of Installed Pastor
11/01/22

08/01/22
Call to Associate Pastor
08/01/22

08/02/22
Call to Co-Pastor
08/02/22

08/03/22
Call to Designated Pastor
08/03/22

04/03/19
Certified Ruling Elder (CRE) Application
04/03/19

03/21/18
Congregational Spiritual Vitality Questionnaire
03/21/18

08/03/22
Contracted Pastoral Services Covenant
08/03/22

07/01/17
Dissolution of Pastoral Relationship Covenant
07/01/17

08/03/22
Parish Associate Covenant
08/03/22

06/21/23
Pulpit Supply List
List by regions, honorarium is $150 for one service, or $200 for two services, plus mileage at the IRS rate. Pulpit supply fee is due even if later cancelled. Please provide a greeter, a place to change and store the individuals’ belongings, what time to arrive and where to access the church.
06/21/23

11/02/22
Stated-Supply Pastor Covenant
11/02/22

08/03/22
Transitional Pastor Covenant
08/03/22

Resources

Date
Info

03/18/19
Certified Ruling Elder (CRE) Course Guidelines
03/18/19

07/01/17
Commission for Church Professionals Responsibilities
07/01/17

05/07/19
Commissioned Ruling Elders (CRE) Guidelines for Mentors/Supervisors
05/07/19

07/01/17
Committee for Preparation on Ministry (CPM) Handbook
07/01/17

03/09/23
Guidelines for Negotiating a Pastoral Agreement
03/09/23

09/26/19
Guidelines for Ordination, Installation and Commissioning
09/26/19

05/18/22
Minimum Compensation Guidelines 2023
05/18/22

07/13/23
Minimum Compensation Guidelines 2024
07/13/23

06/21/23
Pulpit Supply List
List by regions, honorarium is $150 for one service, or $200 for two services, plus mileage at the IRS rate. Pulpit supply fee is due even if later cancelled. Please provide a greeter, a place to change and store the individuals’ belongings, what time to arrive and where to access the church.
06/21/23

07/01/92
Seeking to Be Faithful
07/01/92

POLICIES

Date
Info

08/06/18
Authorization to Release Information Policy
Approved - 8-16-2018
08/06/18

08/06/18
Background Check Policy
Approved - 8-9-6-2018
08/06/18

03/18/19
Certified Ruling Elder (CRE) Policy
Updated 11-8-2018
03/18/19

03/18/19
Certified Ruling Elder Training (CRE) Guidelines for Liaisons
03/18/19

07/01/17
Childbearing and Child Rearing Policy
Approved - 11-16-2010
07/01/17

07/01/17
Christian Educators Policy
Approved - 2-10-2010
07/01/17

09/17/19
Dissolution of Pastoral Relationship Policy
09/17/19

07/01/17
Former Pastors Policy
Approved - 5-4-2015
07/01/17

07/01/17
Full-Time and Part-Time Positions Policy
Full-Time and Part-Time Positions. Updated 4.4.2023, 9.19.2023.
07/01/17

11/28/17
Healthy Boundaries Policy
Approved - 11-28-2017 Engaging church professionals in understanding & maintaining healthy boundaries in ministry.
11/28/17

05/15/18
Leaves for Called Ministers Policy
Approved 05-15-2018
05/15/18

07/01/17
Mentoring Program
07/01/17

12/06/22
Pastor’s Emergency Fund Policy
12/06/22

07/01/17
Receiving Non PCUSA Ministers
07/01/17

07/01/17
Reference Release Policy
Approved - 3-2-2010
07/01/17

03/03/20
Sabbatical Leave Policy
Approved February 18, 2020
03/03/20

11/27/18
Sexual Misconduct Policy
Approved 11- 27- 2018
11/27/18

04/14/21
Validated Ministry Policy
Approved June 3, 2020
04/14/21

PROFESSIONAL Support

An annual church retreat is held in the fall to provide pastors and church professionals:

  • Educational support
  • Spiritual retreat
  • Sense of community

Healthy Boundaries

For over three decades, the Presbyterian Church (USA) has acknowledged that sexual misconduct and exploitation have existed in its churches and among its members. Healthy Boundaries presents a positive approach to professional conduct and responsibilities. Periodic Healthy Boundaries training is required for all Church Professionals.

PREPARATION FOR MINISTRY

Care Task Team:
Rev. Jeff Jaynes, Chair

  • Inquirer intake interviews
  • Midwest career assessments
  • Communications with general assembly
  • Liaison to inquirers and candidates
  • Annual consultants with inquirers and candidates
  • Annual consultations with inquirers and candidates
  • Guiding individual candidates processes

Examination and Credentials Task Team:

  • Inquirer to candidate examinations
  • Clearing candidates
  • Examine pastors entering presbytery and from other denominations
  • Ordination exams/proctors/readers
  • Standards for ordination process

Care of Church Professionals Task Team:

  • Mentor new pastors
  • Liaison to pastors
  • Pastor support team

certified ruling elders

The CRE program is an expansion of the church’s mission in a changing world. The ministry of Commissioned Pastors brings a marvelous richness to a congregation’s ministry and to the Presbytery’s mission. Commissioned Pastors are partners in mission as we seek to bring the good news of Christ to an ever-changing culture.

Although many CREs serve as part time pastors of small churches, there are other roles to which a person might be commissioned such as a parish associate or a member of a ministry team.

The program consists of core courses, practice of ministry courses and a nine month supervised field education experience, alternative clinical experience, communication and training on ethics and healthy boundaries.

Date
Info

04/03/19
Certified Ruling Elder (CRE) Application
04/03/19

05/05/22
Certified Ruling Elder (CRE) Brochure
05/05/22

03/18/19
Certified Ruling Elder (CRE) Course Guidelines
03/18/19

07/01/17
Certified Ruling Elder (CRE) Personal Information Form
07/01/17

03/18/19
Certified Ruling Elder Training (CRE) Guidelines for Liaisons
03/18/19

03/18/19
Commissioned Ruling Elders (CRE) Field Education Guidelines
03/18/19

08/24/23
Covenant for a Temporary Pastoral Relationship for Ruling Elder Commissioned to Presbytery-wide Pastoral Service
08/24/23

08/02/22
Covenant of Ruling Elder Commissioned (CRE) to Pastoral Service
08/02/22